The Return Of A 1957 Class Ring

It was a shock to hear from the Roosevelt Alumni Association that someone was trying to return my 1957 class ring, as I could not even recall how I had lost it. I called Winona White and was told that her mother had found it at a beach or park shortly after graduating from high school. For about 50 years the ring had laid in limbo in a jewelry box, but the advent of technology and the inscribed initials FSS prompted Winona to make a serious search for the owner.

Because of her efforts, I was recently able to meet Winona and her family at the home of her parents, Wyman and Elizabeth Au. What an unbelievable occasion that was! Everyone was watching as I tried the ring on, and I was surprised and so happy it still fit! It looked shiny and new, too, since I had hardly worn it.

I spent a lovely afternoon getting to know the two families and also enjoyed Elizabeth’s homemade pineapple cake. I learned that Wyman and my husband Harry knew each other while in the AFROTC at UH. Another tie? Callman Au, their relative, had sold us our first home in Mililani 40 years ago!

Mahalo, Winona and Elizabeth, for taking good care of my ring and for your perseverance in returning a long-lost treasure!

Floria Santo AbeAiea

Dear Floria, You not only found your ring, you made lifelong friends.

Aloha Pamela!

My family and I recently moved to the Mainland from Oahu (sadly!). I had two cats, a brother and sister, Kitkit and Kixxie. One day, Kixxie never returned from outdoors. My children and I were heartbroken. Until the time of our move, we put up signs, posted “missing” ads, put in a report with the Hawaiian Humane Society and searched the neighborhood repeatedly. We finally moved from the island in June, missing our little Kixxie.

Two weeks ago, I received a call from Michelle at The Cat Clinic in Kapahulu saying they had Kixxie! I was in disbelief. Not only had it been over four months, but she was found in Nuuanu. We had lived in the Pearl Harbor Navy Housing. The clinic identified Kixxie through her microchip. The Cat Clinic arranged to fly her to us in Newport, R.I. My former neighbor Gina Bluthardt took care of getting a cat carrier and took her to the airport.

Thank you to all!

Cathy GabrielNewport, R.I.

Dear Cathy,

“This story has a happy ending!” says The Cat Clinic receptionist Michelle Young. “Dr. Suzanne Sylvester is a member of the Pacific Club, and one day employees told her there was a cat coming around. They asked her to take it to the clinic for a checkup. It was then we discovered the microchip. We called the Hawaiian Humane Society, who gave us Cathy’s number. She was so happy to hear from us!”

(If you know someone who deserves some Applause, send your letters to Pamela Young, MidWeek Applause, KITV, 801 S. King St., Honolulu, HI, 96813 or e-mail pyoung@kitv.com. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of your “applaudee” so we can contact him or her.)